Wed, 20 Feb 2019 02:08:37 -0500WeeblyFri, 04 Aug 2017 00:39:49 GMThttp://www.carolynemerick.com/bookreviews/review-viking-poetry-for-heathen-rites-by-eirik-westcoat"Viking Poetry for Heathen Rites" is a collection of devotional poems in the Asatru, that is Teutonic Heathen, religion. Eirik Westcoat is a true poet, and his devotion to his faith is evident in this work.

This is the most well done book of its kind that I've yet come across. The author is incredibly comprehensive in the range of religious topics he covers. There are poems for spiritual purposes (such as hallowing and warding, terms that will be familiar to pagans of any path), poems that tell stories of specific deities and their exploits in Norse myth, and poems to call upon specific gods.

There are numerous forms of devotional poems to specific deities. So while one poem might call upon a god to request their presence, there are also poems of praise and toasts to the gods.

True to the Teutonic tradition, the author is sure to include a wide swath of gods, not only sticking to the most well known and famous ones.

In addition, important spiritual figures like the Ancestors and the Alfar are not disregarded.

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And, anyone steeped in indigenous European faith knows well that the Ancestors and Wights were, perhaps, even more relevant in the spiritual lives of Europeans than even the great gods were. So, that the author includes these important spiritual figures in his devotional work speaks to his insight into his own faith.

I would recommend this book to many different demographics. It is designed for Asatruar (practitioners of Asatru, that is faithful to the Aesir, or Teutonic Heathens). However, any modern Pagan or neo-Pagan with an interest in the Germanic gods will enjoy this book.

In addition, anyone who has a mere cultural interest in Norse indigenous spirituality and Germanic culture would do well to peer through these pages. This is an age when European cultural heritage is under more threat than ever before. It behooves ethnic-Europeans of any faith, or no faith at all, to make an effort to explore and understand our cultural roots. And, I can think of no better way to do it than by reading the words of someone who has dedicated their heart and soul to the gods of their ancestors.

]]>Sun, 23 Apr 2017 15:40:59 GMThttp://www.carolynemerick.com/bookreviews/review-witches-of-pennsylvania-occult-history-and-lore-by-thomas-whiteWitchcraft trials, superstitions, and the practices of the accused is a topic that has been much studied in the past few decades. Most historians focus on the witch hunts of Europe or the Salem witch trials of Massachusetts.

But, there are many parts of the United States that have a rich history of superstitious folk tradition that don’t get as much attention. Thomas White’s book, “Witches of Pennsylvania: Occult History & Lore,” reveals that the Keystone State has quite a wicked history of its own.

At just under 100 pages, this isn’t a long book. Yet it is densely packed with information which introduces the reader to the cultural influences that bred a complex system of folk belief in Pennsylvania.

​White explains in his introduction that he purposely chose not to cover every cultural group historically present in the region for a few reasons.

Native Americans, like other indigenous groups, were typically shamanic cultures and therefore had their own unique ideas about concepts such as magic, healing, and the spirit world. However, most Native American customs from the Northeastern United States were recorded only by European observers, if at all. Therefore historical observations of Native practices can often be rife with misunderstanding and bias. ​

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​White says that African Americans also had a fascinating spiritual tradition which included hoodoo and “conjure.” However, these practices were not documented as well in Pennsylvania as they were in some of the Southern states. It is the European American traditions that are focused on in this book, most especially the Pennsylvania Germans. ​

White begins by explaining that Pennsylvania’s early identity as a colony run by William Penn and the Quakers created an environment that was tolerant of diverse beliefs. This made Pennsylvania a desirable destination for immigrants seeking the freedom to practice their religions.

An influx of German groups brought various Christian sects to the colony and later to the state. Many of these immigrants brought a wide range of traditional folk beliefs and customs with them. These folk practices mixed Christianity with pre-Christian customs which had been common in Germany, making the Pennsylvania Germans a group known for both witchcraft and the folk healers who use their own magical means.

Though this is a serious historical survey, White’s prose flows easily. His accessible writing style plus the fascinating subject matter makes this an exceptional book which is enjoyable to read. Anyone interested in historical witchcraft, Pennsylvania German culture, or folk tradition in general will appreciate this book. ​ Click here to view it on Amazon.

​​My name is Carolyn Emerick, and I write on the history, myth, and folklore of Northwestern Europe.

Explore this website for more on European history, mythology, and folk tradition. Please check out the section for my books!

]]>Sun, 23 Apr 2017 02:35:12 GMThttp://www.carolynemerick.com/bookreviews/review-icelandic-magic-practical-secrets-of-the-northern-grimoires-by-stephen-e-flowers-phdIcelandic Magic is the latest title by an author who has been an important voice in the Asatru and wider pagan community for decades. Stephen Flowers, also known as Edred Thorsson, is a legitimate scholar earning his Ph.D. in Germanic Languages and Medieval Studies. He began studying Germanic magical practices very early on, in fact, his dissertation was entitled “Runes and Magic: Magical Formulaic Elements in the Elder Tradition.”

As a practicing pagan, Flowers brings a practical understanding to the table that non-practicing scholars lack, while his academic credentials give him stronger insight than a non-academic author could muster, as it allows him to read primary sources in their original languages and apply a deep understanding of historio-cultural context.

​In the past, Flowers published pagan practice books under his pseudonym, Edred Thorsson, reserving his given name for his academic work. However, he has indicated that he has reached a stage in his career where it is not necessary to do so. And, this book is a great representation of the synthesis of scholarly detail merged with spiritual practice.

There has been some confusion in the Germanic pagan community, as many people were under the impression that Icelandic Magic was simply a repackaging of a previous work, “The Galdabok: An Icelandic Book of Magic.”

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It’s not. That was an annotated translation of one authentic Icelandic magical manuscript.

​This book is rather a discussion on Icelandic magical tradition and a how-to instruction manual that is informed by the author’s study of numerous Icelandic texts. ​

To provide a deeper understanding of the tradition presented, Flowers devotes the first part of his book introducing the reader to the historio-cultural context the magical tradition evolved in.

He then moves into methodology of the craft, to equip the reader to tackle preparation and ritual in an informed way.

Finally, Flowers presents a basic set of spells taken both from authentic manuscripts as well as some that were devised by him. All have been tested, he says, for their efficacy (potency) prior to selection.

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​​Since the goal of the book is to give the reader the tools that enable literacy in this magical tradition, the author included several blank pages in the rear so that the reader may construct their own spells and record them, making this a fully functional magical manuscript in the grimoire tradition.

While this book will appeal to people interested in the magical arts, I would also recommend it to people who are interested in Icelandic culture, more broadly in indigenous Germanic belief, and to those interested in human anthropology and world religions.

​My name is Carolyn Emerick, and I write on the history, myth, and folklore of Northwestern Europe.

Explore this website for more on European history, mythology, and folk tradition. Please check out the section for my books!